SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA -- Faced with an impending deadline for his
decision about retirement or playing elsewhere, San Francisco 49ers
quarterback Steve Young scrambled. The 38-year-old star signed a waiver to
delay payment of a $1 million roster bonus until June 10th, effectively
giving himself until then to make his decision. If he decides to play, the
49ers are expected to release him because of salary-cap restraints.

While the 49ers hope that Young will choose to retire, Young evidently
hasn't made up his mind. In addition, he is traveling until next week for
various charity functions, and decided he needed more time to make his
decision. 49ers coach Steve Mariucci says that's understandable, "Steve
deserves to have ample time to make his decision. He certainly deserves to
be here if any decision is made one way or another," he told the Rocky
Mountain News on Wednesday.

While the 49ers coach says he can't reveal details of his conversation with
Young, he did say that Young passed recent neurological tests "with flying
colors." "Clinically, he is normal," Mariucci said. "If we can consider
Steve Young normal, then he is normal."

But Mariucci adds that Young hasn't been given a physical by the 49ers
medical staff and hasn't been "cleared" to play in San Francisco. He admits
it is possible that the 49ers might not clear him, while other teams may,
but says that hasn't yet occurred, "We have not taken that posture. We just
are continually discussing it," he said.